Trump Caps Student Visas at Four Years, Limits Journalists to 240 Days

The Trump administration has replaced open-ended stays for international students and foreign journalists with fixed time limits, forcing periodic extensions or departures. The change, announced by the Department of Homeland Security, replaces the prior duration-of-status system with caps of four years for most F-1 and J visa holders and 240 days for I visa holders, dropping to 90 days for journalists from mainland China.

DHS justified the limits by citing a rise in admissions—more than 1.8 million student entries in 2024 alone—and the resulting difficulty monitoring compliance, overstays, and potential security risks. Extensions remain available, though applicants must demonstrate continued eligibility. Additional provisions bar students from switching to a program at the same or lower academic level and cut the post-program departure window from 60 days to 30 days. The rule takes effect 60 days after Federal Register publication, subject to congressional review.

China’s Foreign Ministry labeled the 90-day cap for its journalists discriminatory and said it violates prior bilateral understandings, reserving the right to reciprocal measures. Advocacy groups including Reporters Without Borders and the Committee to Protect Journalists warned the shorter periods would hinder sustained reporting and could pressure journalists to self-censor during renewals. NAFSA and the Cato Institute raised similar concerns about talent retention and administrative burdens for universities.

The policy revives elements first proposed in 2020 and partially implemented for Chinese journalists during the first Trump term before being eased under Biden. Officials have stated the fixed periods will improve vetting without creating undue hardship, as extensions are permitted when justified.